Cornwall LEP announces public consultations (at last)

So here we are 12 months and 17 days since the LEP bid was announced as successful by the coalition government and the LEP has announced public consultations. Only a day after I blogged criticising the LEP for a lack of discernible action such as consultations. So I was pleased to read of the roadshows being announced on the Business Cornwall newsite, as much as I have criticisms of the LEP particularly their lack of action, I do believe people should turn up listen to what they have to say and give feedback, criticisms and forward their own ideas (list of venues copied below). As much as the MK member in me wants to make party political points about the coalition and their poor economic record in Cornwall, we need the LEP to work for the sake of the Cornish economy and it is imperative upon both the businesses of Cornwall and the public to engage with the LEP and influence it. In particular here the public, despite being funded by taxpayers we have had no say in who should be on the board, I would have liked to see the elected officials come from political parties and Independents from across the spectrum not merely 2 Conservatives councillors (Alec Robertson, Chris Ridgers) and a Liberal Democrat councillor (Lord Teverson). Also it would have been nice for the "private sector" members to include at least one person from a trade union to speak for the working class of Cornwall especially seeing as political parties of the left, Mebyon Kernow among them, have been excluded from the board.

It is regrettable that the LEP roadshow will only come to Penzance once and that it is held on a tuesday afternoon, I am not sure of the logic to hold such events during office hours. Other than that, the only time the LEP roadshow will grace Penwith with it's presence is St Ives (on the same day at 9:30am). I hope people from the west will be able to make these dates and put forward strongly the case that West Cornwall is in desperate need of investment and solutions to resuscitate our flagging economy. Especially at a time when Cornwall Council is looking to attract our heliport to Newquay airport and in the aftermath of the council making a complete fudge out of Penzance harbour resulting in funding being withdrawn. I think the powers that be in Truro owe us one, or quite a few actually.

November 25

• 2.30pm: The Eden Project

December 6

• 9.30am: Town Hall, Truro

• 2.30pm: Pool Innovation Centre

 December 8

• 10am: Guildhall, Saltash

• 2.30pm: Town Hall, Launceston

• 6pm: Public Hall, Liskeard

 December 13

• 9.30am: Tate, St Ives

• 2.30pm: Astro Centre, Penzance

• 6pm: Wesley Hall, Helston

December 16

• 9.30am: Shire House Suite, Bodmin

• 2.30pm: Bay Hotel, Newquay

 January 6

• 8am: National Maritime Museum, Falmouth (booking esential via lep@cornwall.gov.uk)

• 2.30pm: St Austell Brewery, St Austell

 January 11

• 10.30am: Town Hall, Isles of Scilly

 January 13

• 9.30am: Parkhouse Centre, Bude